Middle East
Gaza: Soldiers accidentally kill three hostages in fighting
Israeli soldiers during a ground operation in the Shijaiyah district of Gaza City. photo
© Moti Milrod/HAARETZ/AP/dpa
According to Israeli estimates, 112 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip. During fighting in the city there was a serious wrong decision that cost three of them their lives.
The serious incident occurred this morning. Hagari says it is still unclear how the three hostages ended up in the area of the fighting. However, after an initial reconstruction of the events, the military assumes that they either escaped their captors or were left behind intentionally.
Shortly after the incident, suspicions arose that the dead could have been hostages, said Hagari. The bodies were then brought to Israeli territory for closer examination. It was confirmed that there were three Israeli hostages.
“This is a sad and painful incident for all of us, and the army bears responsibility for everything that happened,” Hagari continued. The military immediately began investigating the incident. Hagari emphasized that Shejaiya is an “active combat area” in which there have been ongoing fighting in recent days. He expressed his condolences to the families of the hostages.